John R. Merrick
Awarded an M.Sc. and a Ph.D. from the University of Sydney for studies on
Australian freshwater fishes, John’s research programmes have involved extensive fieldwork
on streams, lakes and dams throughout Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and
the Northern Territory. Over 65 publications have included 6 books, many refereed papers
and general articles on aquaculture and freshwater fisheries management, reproduction
and taxonomy of a range of Australian native fishes as well as ecology and conservation
management of endemic crayfishes.

In addition to teaching and postgraduate supervision in the Department of Biological
Sciences and Graduate School of the Environment at Macquarie University, Dr. Merrick
has undertaken a number of other activities related to publishing. These include: editing
Scientific Journals and Conference Proceedings; editing and proofing of scientific or technical
monographs; draft manuscript assessment; and compilation of specialist indexes.

Michael Archer
A graduate of Princeton University, Michael returned to Australia as a Fulbright
Scholar and obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Western Australia. With colleagues
he began work on the remarkable fossil deposits at Riversleigh (north-western Queensland)
in 1976 and has retained a leading role in the continuing studies at Riversleigh.

As Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of New South Wales other
research interests have included palaeontological investigations of early Tertiary mammals
from Murgon (south-eastern Queensland). Mike’s diverse and active research has resulted
in many publications—he has received six Whitley awards for books.

During his appointment as Director of the Australian Museum in Sydney, Professor
Archer continued to supervise postgraduate students and co-ordinate research activities—
including a ground-breaking programme to reconstruct the genetic material of the
Tasmanian tiger (the ‘Thylacine Project’). Early in 2004 Mike returned to the University
of New South Wales

Georgina Hickey
Georgina M. Hickey (née Clayton) is the Editor of Nature Australia magazine (published
by the Australian Museum), where she has worked since 1984. She co-edited the
original Vertebrate and Zoogeography and Evolution in Australasia (1984) after graduating
from the University of New South Wales (Zoology and Mathematics) in 1980.

Michael Lee
Michael Lee’s research interests include the evolution of fossil and living reptiles,
molecular and anatomical evolution, methods for quantifying biodiversity, and the theory
and practice of systematics. He studied at the University of Queensland and Cambridge
University. Mike is currently Senior Research Scientist at the South Australian Museum
and Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide.